Hong Kong's Strategic Relevance in Sino-Indian Maritime Competition in the South China Sea

Abstract

This paper explores the under-examined yet increasingly critical role of Hong Kong in the broader context of Sino
Indian maritime competition, particularly within the strategically volatile South China Sea. As a semi-autonomous 
global port city with historical geopolitical weight and proximity to key maritime chokepoints, Hong Kong occupies 
a unique position in China’s maritime doctrine under the ―String of Pearls‖ strategy and its broader Belt and Road 
Initiative (BRI). India, seeking to counterbalance China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, has intensified 
its maritime engagements through strategic partnerships, naval diplomacy, and port developments across Southeast 
Asia.